GLP-1 and drugs
Main guides to GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide, and to investigational candidates like retatrutide: trial data and labels.
The GLP-1 and drugs group covers licensed medicines and investigational drug candidates: semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), tirzepatide (Mounjaro), liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza) and retatrutide, which remains investigational. Each guide summarizes the large trials (STEP, SURPASS, SURMOUNT, SCALE, TRIUMPH), the side-effect frequencies in the product information, what happens after stopping, and licensing status.
Dosing, use and storage sections summarize the approved product information; they are not instructions and do not replace a prescription. What a drug is licensed for and how it is used on social media are kept apart.
Unlicensed vials and counterfeit pens sold online get their own warning in every guide. This site does not sell medicines or link to sellers, and gives no individual treatment advice. Side effects, stopping and head-to-head questions such as Ozempic versus Mounjaro are covered in the sub-guides and comparison pages.
Cagrilintide
- Amylin-like action: A long-acting analog of amylin, a satiety hormone released from the pancreas; it binds amylin and calcitonin receptors.
- Appetite regulation: Regulates appetite through direct effects in the brain; developed together with semaglutide as a different, complementary mechanism.
Liraglutide
- Insulin secretion: By mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, it increases insulin secretion in response to high blood sugar.
- Glucagon secretion: It reduces the secretion of glucagon, the hormone that raises blood sugar.
- Appetite and satiety: By acting on appetite signals in the brain, it reduces food intake.
- Gastric emptying: It slows the passage of stomach contents into the intestine.
Mazdutide
- Dual hormone action: A peptide administered once a week that stimulates the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors together.
- Glucagon component: The rationale for adding the glucagon receptor is its energy-expenditure-increasing effect; the same component is associated with heart rate increase because of its heart-stimulating effect.
Orforglipron
- Oral GLP-1 effect: It is a small non-peptide molecule that stimulates the GLP-1 receptor; for this reason it was developed to be taken orally as a tablet.
- Appetite and blood sugar: It reduces appetite and increases satiety; when blood sugar is high, it supports pancreatic insulin secretion and reduces glucagon.
- Gastric emptying: It delays gastric emptying, which can affect the absorption of other oral drugs.
Retatrutide
- Triple hormone effect: An experimental peptide that stimulates the GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon receptors together.
- Appetite and metabolism: Its effects on food intake, blood sugar and energy use through these receptors are being investigated.
Semaglutide
- Insulin secretion: Stimulates GLP-1 receptors to increase insulin secretion when blood glucose rises.
- Glucagon secretion: Reduces the secretion of glucagon, the hormone that raises blood glucose.
- Appetite and satiety: Acts on the signals that regulate appetite, reducing hunger and food intake.
- Stomach emptying: Slows the passage of stomach contents into the intestine.
Survodutide
- Dual hormone effect: It is an experimental glucagon-derived peptide that stimulates glucagon and GLP-1 receptors together.
- Liver fat: Through the glucagon receptor, it is expected to increase fat breakdown in the liver, and through the GLP-1 effect to reduce appetite.
Tirzepatide
- Hormone signals: Stimulates the receptors of two hormones, GIP and GLP-1, together.
- Blood sugar regulation: Increases blood-sugar-dependent insulin secretion and decreases glucagon secretion.
- Appetite and fullness: Reduces appetite and increases the feeling of fullness, lowering food intake.
- Gastric emptying: Slows the passage of stomach contents into the intestine.
